{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\cocoartf1348\cocoasubrtf170
{\fonttbl\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 ArialMT;}
{\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;}
\margl1440\margr1440\vieww9880\viewh8320\viewkind0
\deftab720
\pard\pardeftab720\ri-7\pardirnatural\qc
\f0\b\fs24 \cf0 Why the Sahel Rains Failed \'96 and Why They May Return
\b0 \
by Kate Ravilious\
\pard\pardeftab720\fi357\ri-7\pardirnatural
\cf0 Jan. 24, 2016 \'96 Traditionally the Sahel \'96 a semi-arid strip of land south of the Sahara Desert \'96 is one of Africa\'92s most productive crop regions. But during the 1980s, this region, which stretches from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, became better known for drought and famine. Thankfully, the region has become wetter again. Now new research indicates that the return of the rains is most likely a beneficial side-effect of global warming.\
Rainfall statistics show that, between the 1950s and 1980s, summer rainfall fell by around 40% across the Sahel, bringing the region to its knees. At the time, scientists speculated that the drought was linked to poor land management and a rapidly growing population. But newer data indicates that it may have been sulphate aerosols, produced by fossil fuel burning in Europe and North America, which slowed evaporation from the North Atlantic and cut off the Sahel\'92s moisture source.\
Since then, we\'92ve cleaned up our skies. But in the meantime, sea surface temperatures have risen and greenhouse gas concentrations have climbed. By modeling these changes, and studying the impact of each change individually, Buwen Dong and Rowan Sutton, from the University of Reading, have found strong evidence that the rise in greenhouse gases was the dominant driver of the recovery of Sahel rainfall. But whether these increases will continue into the future isn\'92t clear. The scientists also caution that increased rainfall isn\'92t always beneficial. \'93If more of the rain falls in short intense events, then it may cause flooding and could run off very quickly, rather than penetrate the soil,\'94 says Sutton.\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri-7\pardirnatural\qc
\cf0 www.theguardian.com/news/2016/jan/24/sahel-rainfall-drought}